A father and son have walked free from court despite their involvement in a sophisticated £20 million heroin smuggling operation that saw the Class A drug imported into Birmingham concealed within bottles of pomegranate juice.
The sophisticated smuggling operation
Colin Bartlett, 54, and his 30-year-old son Lee Bartlett, both from Bordesley Green, were key members of an organised crime group that established a front company with a fictitious director to facilitate their illegal activities. The scheme involved importing heroin from Afghanistan hidden within shipments of pomegranate juice, using legitimate bottles to conceal the illicit substance.
National Crime Agency officers had the group under surveillance when they moved in during May 2023. The operation unfolded at a Birmingham industrial unit where the Bartletts and eleven paid workers had begun unloading a shipping container containing 2.6 tonnes of pomegranate juice.
The massive drug seizure
Authorities intercepted the container and discovered that more than 420kg of heroin had been concealed within the liquid shipment. According to the National Crime Agency, the seized drugs had an estimated street value exceeding £20.3 million.
The drugs had been carefully mixed with genuine bottles of juice, creating a sophisticated concealment method that required significant coordination and planning by the criminal network.
NCA officers arrested the group at the scene as they attempted to unload the container and process the concealed narcotics.
Court sentencing and ongoing manhunt
Following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court in August, both Bartletts were found guilty of participating in the activities of an organised crime group. They returned to the same court for sentencing on Friday, November 21.
In a surprising outcome, Colin Bartlett received a 24-month prison sentence suspended for two years, while his son Lee was given an 18-month suspended sentence, also for two years. This means both men avoided immediate imprisonment despite their roles in the multi-million pound drug operation.
The investigation continues as two other suspects remain at large. Shamut Khan, 56, and Matiullah Zamankhel, 23, both from the Washwood Heath area of Birmingham, failed to answer bail in November 2023 and are now wanted by authorities.
NCA Branch Commander Derek Evans stated: "These men were part of an organised crime group seeking to import huge quantities of heroin into the UK, potentially generating millions of pounds of criminal profit and endangering vulnerable people across the country."
Mr Evans added that Khan and Zamankhel have known associations with the Alum Rock and Shaw Hill Road areas of Birmingham but could be anywhere in the country. He warned that anyone assisting the wanted men could face arrest themselves.
The NCA has appealed to the public for information regarding the whereabouts of the two missing suspects, asking anyone with knowledge to contact them immediately on 0370 496 7622 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
